Margaret Benn Walsh

Margaret, Lady Walsh or Margaret Benn born Margaret Fowke (13 July 1758 – 29 September 1836) was a British collector of Indian songs. Her uncle and de facto guardian, John Walsh, left his fortune to her first born son. She lived at Warfield Park until her son Baron Ormathwaite took over the house. Life She was born in 1758 and baptised in London. Her mother, Elizabeth, died in 1760, when she was a child and her father, Joseph Fowke, lost interest. He was a successful diamond trader employed by the East India Company. Margaret's godmother was Margaret Maskelyne, Lady Clive. Her mother's uncle, John Walsh, became her de facto parent. Her new guardian's interest at this point appears to have only been financial and he arranged for others to care for her. She had problems with some of these homes and she was reportedly made mentally ill. Her elder brother went to school, but she was left to educate herself in the libraries of the Clives, the Stracheys and her guardians. She emerged aged seventeen and went to India in January 1776. She had planned to live with her aunt but she died before she arrived. She ended up living in Calcutta and her brother and father came there from Benares. She lived either in Calcutta or Chinsura until 1779. She was described as large, not a beauty, but she was strong willed and she refused to be controlled by her natural father and was said to be interesting to talk to. She was interested in horse riding and mathematics. She was intrigued by what she called "the Hindostannie air". These were Indian melodies represented for the British ear. She would organise Indian musicians and arrange for the music and words to be written down. She tried to play the music herself she recorded some of the music herself and arranged a concert for Warren Hastings.